DELAWARE, Ohio — A downtown building built in the 1880s would be replaced by a new county
building if the Delaware City Council agrees to let the county raze it.

But if preservationists prevail and the building stays, Delaware could lose income tax and other
revenue as county workers are forced to move elsewhere.

The longtime Elks lodge, 110 N. Sandusky St., also known as the Ely Home, features
Italianate-style pentagonal bay windows and a tall square tower.

“It’d be nice to save,” said Jon Melvin, the county’s manager of facilities. “But in 100 years,
what we build will have far more historic significance than what’s here now.”

The 4,500-square-foot Elks building began as a private home and then was used by Ohio Wesleyan
University for fraternities before the Elks moved in in 1915. The Elks sold the property in 1996 to
the county, which had no immediate plans to destroy it, but figured it eventually would play into
expansion plans. It has been unused for about 15 years.

The county envisions relocating its common pleas court to the site. A 63,000-square-foot
structure with 200 parking spaces is proposed across from the existing historic courthouse and
would be part of a five-year, $50 million plan to remodel existing buildings, Melvin said.
Construction could begin as early as next year.

The city’s historic preservation commission, however, voted 5-0 in January to save the Elks
building, finding that “deterioration of the building has not progressed to the point where it is
not economically feasible to restore.” The commission suggested paying for the rehabilitation with
grants, tax credits and other creative financing mechanisms.

Cincinnati-based GBBN architects concluded up to $1 million would be needed to fully restore
it.

Some have suggested compromise: building the new courthouse around the Elks building.

Melvin said that would be feasible, but added, “It would be a little bit of an injustice to the
new building to be behind (the older one).”

The historic commission’s vote was appealed to the city council, which plans a public hearing
and possible vote on the fate of the building on June 23.

“It’s an unfortunate, but acceptable, trade-off,” said Tom Homan, Delaware city manager.
Sacrificing the Elks building ensures that the city will retain one of its largest employers and
preserve some of the more than $740,000 in income tax it generates for the city.

Council ultimately will decide.

“It’s a historic building. It’s just a very beautiful, old structure,” said Delaware City
Councilman Andrew Brush, who concedes that more than history would factor into his vote. The county
hasn’t said how many employees might be transferred. The city’s income tax rate is 1.85
percent.

“It’s really important that the county government and court functions remain downtown,” he said.
“I don’t think it’s anybody trying to play hardball with us. ... If they’re not able to expand on
their current site, they’re limited in where they can go.”